LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Leaders and thinkers will discuss local food and the broad array of issues associated with it in a new event Sept. 23 at the Mellwood Arts Center in Louisville.

IF Local Food: The Power of Change is an affiliate event of IdeaFestival, a leading celebration for creative thinkers and the intellectually curious. IF Local Food is a partnership of IdeaFestival, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Winston Industries, Louisville Metro Government, Louisville Farm to Table, and Seed Capital Kentucky.

“It is so important for people in Kentucky to continue to come around the table and discuss issues about local food,” Agriculture Commissioner James Comer said. “This is a crucial time in Kentucky’s agricultural history, and Louisville continues to be a leader when it comes to finding solutions to help more Kentucky farmers and farm families. I'm so pleased to be a part of this event."

IF Local Food will feature several sessions focusing on Louisville’s local food community, impacts to farms, financing a food business, and many more topics. Panelists will engage in structured conversations touching issues related to economic development, farming, food retail, food literacy, access and hunger, urban agriculture, financing, and innovation. A new resource to promote the local food movement developed by Leadership Louisville Center’s 2013 Bingham Fellows Class will be unveiled.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer will speak with Commissioner Comer about the unique opportunities for partnerships that exist through the local food movement. The event will conclude with a session about why some of the nation’s most innovative entrepreneurs are excited about investing in agriculture and how Village Capital is bringing these entrepreneurs together in Louisville through the VilCap/VentureWell Louisville Agriculture and Cleantech Accelerator.

“Louisville is uniquely suited to the change we're trying to make in the agriculture and energy value chains because of the concentration of companies based in the region, the customers and channels they're looking to serve here, and the strength of the local investment and civic communities. We've been thrilled to partner with tremendous individuals and organizations to launch our first program in the Midwest,” said Victoria Fram, director of operations for Village Capital.

IF Local Food will run from 8:15 a.m.-4:15 p.m. EDT. Tickets are required to attend. Tickets and the full agenda are available at www.ideafestival.com/IF-local-food. Ticket includes breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack.

Source: Press release courtesy of Kentucky Department of Agriculture